The Story of Your Life

For his new record, Matthew West did something unusual: He turned the microphone around. Rather than write about what he was experiencing in his life, he asked his fans to submit the stories of their lives. When he opened up this opportunity to his fans, the message spread quickly - and soon almost 10,000 stories were submitted. Radio stations, media outlets, and retailers caught the vision and helped spread the word of this unique album. The stories gave Matthew a window into what his fans had experienced in their lives. And they covered a wide range of human experiences and emotions. From joy to sorrow, struggle to victory, and life and death. The song "Family Tree" describes how Christ gives us a new identity and legacy and life, while "One Less' chronicles the joy of adoption and helping those most in need. "Broken Girl" tragically recounts the countless stories Matthew received about sexual abuse - and describes the healing and redemption that Christ promises. "My Own Little World" perhaps serves as a capstone to the entire album, describing a person who lived in their own "little world" and then was awakened to the bigger picture of need and God's work in the world.